Ahead of new government, Siddaramaiah's policy man Venkateshaiah exits CMO after transfer

Bengaluru: KAS officer Venkateshaiah, a long-time collaborator with outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was transferred on Thursday ahead of a new government stepping in.

A 2012-batch KAS officer, Venkateshaiah was Siddaramaiah’s private secretary. He has now been posted as director of agricultural marketing.

Armed with a PhD, Venkateshaiah was known as Siddaramaiah's trusted lieutenant on policy matters.

From drafting his speeches to preparing policy notes, Venkateshaiah found a place in Siddaramaiah’s first circle.

The officer was with Siddaramaiah when he was the Leader of the Opposition (2019-2023).

Another official from the chief minister’s office Ramesh P Konareddi was transferred on Thursday. Konareddi was Siddaramaiah’s officer on special duty (OSD). He is now a director at the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd.